Liverpool striker Andy Carroll insists he has spent too much of the season watching his team-mates from the substitutes' bench.

Carroll, 23, has failed to live up to his £35 million price tag following a frustrating start to his Reds career. The England international has, however, gone some way towards repaying his fee in the past week when he followed a late winner at Blackburn with the goal that sent Liverpool through to the FA Cup final at the expense of rivals Everton at the weekend.

The former Newcastle frontman started both games and, after a season in which
he has come off the bench in 14 of his 31 league appearances, believes he will
only get better with more time on the pitch.

"I am confident in myself that, if I am playing games, I will score goals and
put myself about," he told various English newspapers. "I cannot really do that if I am on the bench and coming on in the last 10
minutes of games.

"What I want is to start games and put myself about like I know I can. When I
haven't been playing, you get low on confidence."

Carroll also claimed the days of his party lifestyle off the pitch were behind
him since moving to Liverpool. Last September former England boss Fabio Capello infamously warned Carroll that
he needed to "drink less", with the striker now admitting he prefers to stay
in with his girlfriend.

"My past is my past. I changed my lifestyle when I came to Liverpool and
settled down. I love it here," he said.

"People will say to me 'Oh, you were in the boozer last week' but it is just
rumours going round.

"Now I just laugh it off. To be honest, I don't go out at all. All I do now is
sit in the house with my girlfriend, chill out and watch movies."